Cleaning Up the Final Frontier
- Resource Type
- RTM Publication
- Publish Date
- 08/19/2024
- Author
- Tim Hornyak
- Topics
- Enhance Sustainability, 3D printing, Innovation
- Associated Event
- Publication
A teenager in Naples, Florida, discovered that a piece of space debris from the International Space Station had crashed through his home, highlighting the growing issue of space junk. With over 30,000 large debris pieces orbiting Earth, the risks to satellites and infrastructure are increasing. Companies like Astroscale and Clearspace are developing innovative solutions, such as capturing and deorbiting debris using 3D printing and robotic arms. Meanwhile, new ideas, including space-based recycling stations and laser systems, are being explored to address the problem. Governments and private sectors are beginning to take action, with initiatives like the ESA’s Zero Debris Charter aiming to mitigate the risks posed by space debris.
Tim Hornyak is a Canadian writer based in Tokyo, Japan, with over 25 years of experience in journalism. He has covered a wide range of topics, including travel, food, technology, science, culture, and business in Japan. Tim has also written about Japanese inventors, roboticists, and Nobel Prize-winning scientists. His work has been featured in prominent publications such as The New York Times, Nature, Science, Scientific American, CNBC, CNET, The Japan Times, and IDG News. He is the author of Loving the Machine: The Art and Science of Japanese Robots and has contributed to several Lonely Planet travel guides. Tim has lived in Tokyo for 20 years and, while his favorite robot is Astro Boy, he believes the greatest Japanese invention is the onsen (hot spring).